Bomb Attack Foiled by Barrier

A bomber in an explosives-filled vehicle tried to attack the Baghdad Hotel today. The hotel had been ringed with barriers as a precaution against this kind of attack, and the bomber rammed one of the barriers. His vehicle blew up and killed at five or more bystanders, injuring others, but damage to the hotel, which houses many American officials, was minimal. The photo below shows the scene following the bombing.
The driver of the vehicle was described as “not an Iraqi, he had a lighter complexion.” He was shot at by guards as he approached one of the concrete barriers surrounding the hotel at a high rate of speed, and exploded on impact.